Ribeira da Cruz is located in the municipality of Porto Novo, and is the largest supplier of vegetables to the markets of Porto Novo, and nearby Sao Vicente Island. Water and energy are clearly the most influential livelihood factors on the community of Ribeira da Cruz.
Agricultural is the main activity, and is developed based on micro irrigation techniques. Water is provided by two community managed springs. Water is pumped from the springs onto water tanks, using electricity, which is quite costly. It amounts approximately to US $2,200 the monthly bill.
The project aims to implement a photo-voltaic system to generate at least 50% of the energy consumed by the pumps, and obviously decrease electricity and water costs. This will have an immediate impact on farmers´ revenues and at the same time decrease the emission amount of CO2.
The direct beneficiaries of the project are 70 farmers. They start to benefit from the project to the extent that start buying water for irrigation of their parcels at a lower price due to reduction in pumping costs. The system will be implemented by the Farmers Association of Ribeira da Cruz who will do all the monitoring and management.